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Carcass Characteristics (carcass + characteristic)
Selected AbstractsEffects of high-level dietary B-vitamins on performance, body composition and tissue vitamin contents of growing/finishing pigsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1-2 2007B. M. Böhmer Summary Forty-eight growing pigs were randomly assigned to five dietary groups and penned individually. They received a diet based on barley, wheat, corn and soya bean meal according to requirement. The experimental groups were supplemented with 400% or 800% of vitamins B2, B6 and pantothenic acid, or 400% or 800% of biotin, while all other vitamins were administered according to requirement. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and content of vitamins in blood, liver and muscles were recorded. Growth performance showed no influence of supplementation, while backfat thickness in the group with 800% B2/B6/pantothenic acid was significantly higher. Content of B2 in blood, liver and muscle was similar in all groups. Content of B6 in blood and liver showed significant differences according to supplementation. The content of vitamin B6 in muscle in the experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. The content of pantothenic acid in blood and muscle in the experimental groups was significantly higher, while in liver all groups were significantly influenced by the supplementation level. Biotin content in liver showed no influence, but the content in plasma was significantly higher in the experimental groups and the content in muscle was significantly higher according to supplementation. The activity of AST showed no significant influence of the dietary vitamin level, but it was obviously decreased in the groups supplemented with biotin. The findings indicate that the dietary supplementation of vitamin B2, B6, pantothenic acid and biotin could not improve performance, but the contents in blood, liver and muscle. [source] Effects of vitamin E and selenium on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34 °C)JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 11-12 2001K. Sahin This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin E (dL-,-Tocopheryl acetate) and selenium (Se; Na2 -SeO3) on performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 °C). A total of 120 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds with a 2 × 2 factorial design received either two levels of vitamin E (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) or two levels of Se (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg of diet). A 250-mg vitamin E/kg of diet compared with that of 125 mg/kg of diet and higher dietary Se inclusions (0.1 vs. 0.2 mg/kg) resulted in a better performance (p=0.001). The interaction between vitamin E and Se for feed intake (p=0.03), final body weight change (p=0.03) and feed efficiency (p=0.001) was detected. Carcass yield increased with increasing both dietary vitamin E and Se (p=0.001). The interactions on carcass characteristics were all non-significant (p > 0.06). Digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP and ether extract) was higher with higher dietary vitamin E (p=0.03), and DM digestibility was also higher with higher dietary Se (p=0.05). There were no interactions detected for digestibility of nutrients (p=0.28). From the results of the present study, it was concluded that a combination of 250 mg of vitamin E and 0.2 mg of Se provides the greatest performance in Japanese quails reared under heat stress and this combination can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets, reducing the negative effects of heat stress. [source] Effects of dietary humate supplementation to broilers on performance, slaughter, carcass and meat colourJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 7 2008Dr Nurinisa Esenbu Abstract BACKGROUND: This experiment was designed to examine the effect of dietary humate supplementation primarily on pH and colour parameters of carcasses, breast fillets and drumsticks and, secondarily on performance and carcass characteristics in broilers. RESULTS: A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments varying in supplemental humate level (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% for H0, H1, H2 and H3). Dietary humate supplementation did not affect performance traits and slaughter, hot carcass weights and yields. Carcass-related variables (pH, L*, a*, b*, H* and C*) were responsive to the dietary treatments. The L*, a*, b*, and C* values for drumstick muscles were higher than those for breast muscles. Except for the L* value, meat colour parameters changed due to packaging. The a* value was higher and b* value was lower for vacuum packaged breast and drumsticks than for those aerobic packaged. Storage period affected colour parameters; while L*, b*, H* and C* values were higher for drumstick skin than for drumstick meat; the a* value was greater in drumstick meat than in skin. CONCLUSION: pH and colour parameters of carcasses, breast fillets and drumsticks of broilers were improved by dietary humate supplementation. However, responses of broiler performance and slaughter and carcass characteristics were minimal. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Factors affecting the meat quality of vealJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2006Tania M Ngapo Abstract Over the last 50 years the veal industry has seen a number of changes, in particularly in production systems with the introduction and acceptance of grain-fed and heavier calves and the progressive move from individual pens to group housing. Reasons for the changes are multi-faceted of which two important players are the well-being of the animal and the public perception of the industry. Regardless of the reasons for the changes, breeders strive to attain veal conforming to the rigorous standards reflecting consumer demands. Consequently a multitude of publications exists on production factors in veal farming. However, many of these reports stop at the ,farm gate', or more correctly, the slaughterhouse, where carcass characteristics in particular are assessed. Changes in production systems generally aim to improve feed efficiency and weight gains, but often overlook meat quality aspects which ultimately dictate financial gains. This review aims to summarise the existing and available literature on factors affecting the quality of veal meat. The topics covered include the effects of breed, sex, weight or age, diet composition and dietary treatments, environment and pre-slaughter handling, and processing factors such as stunning, electrical stimulation, ageing and packaging. Copyright © 2006 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quantitative trait loci associated with AutoFOM grading characteristics, carcass cuts and chemical body composition during growth of Sus scrofaANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2006M. Mohrmann Summary A three-generation full-sib resource family was constructed by crossing two commercial pig lines. Genotypes for 37 molecular markers covering chromosomes SSC1, SSC6, SSC7 and SSC13 were obtained for 315 F2 animals of 49 families and their parents and grandparents. Phenotypic records of traits including carcass characteristics measured by the AutoFOM grading system, dissected carcass cuts and meat quality characteristics were recorded at 140 kg slaughter weight. Furthermore, phenotypic records on live animals were obtained for chemical composition of the empty body, protein and lipid accretion (determined by the deuterium dilution technique), daily gain and feed intake during the course of growth from 30 to 140 kg body weight. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection was conducted using least-squares regression interval mapping. Highest significance at the 0.1% chromosome-wise level was obtained for five QTL: AutoFOM belly weight on SSC1; ham lean-meat weight, percentage of fat of primal cuts and daily feed intake between 60 and 90 kg live weight on SSC6; and loin lean-meat weight on SSC13. QTL affecting daily gain and protein accretion were found on SSC1 in the same region. QTL for protein and lipid content of empty body at 60 kg liveweight were located close to the ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) locus on SSC6. On SSC13, significant QTL for protein accretion and feed conversion ratio were detected during growth from 60 to 90 kg. In general, additive genetic effects of alleles originating from the Piétrain line were associated with lower fatness and larger muscularity as well as lower daily gain and lower protein accretion rates. Most of the QTL for carcass characteristics were found on SSC6 and were estimated after adjustment for the RYR1 gene. QTL for carcass traits, fatness and growth on SSC7 reported in the literature, mainly detected in crosses of commercial lines × obese breeds, were not obtained in the present study using crosses of only commercial lines, suggesting that these QTL are not segregating in the analysed commercial lines. [source] Effects of the fattening period on the fatty acid composition of fat deposits and free amino acid and inosinic acid contents of the longissimus muscle in carcasses of Japanese Black steersANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Eiji IWAMOTO ABSTRACT The effects of the fattening period on carcass characteristics, fatty acid composition of fat deposits, and muscle free amino acid (FAA) and inosinic acid (IMP) contents were evaluated in Japanese Black steers. Ten castrated, 10-month-old calves derived from the same sire were divided into five to be slaughtered at the age of 30 months after a 20-month fattening period (20-month group) and five to be slaughtered at the age of 34 months after a 24-month fattening period (24-month group). Concerning the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat, the percentage of palmitoleic acid was higher (P < 0.05) in the 24- than in the 20-month group, but no difference was noted in any other fatty acids. For intermuscular fat, no difference was observed in any fatty acids. The percentages of oleic acid and total monounsaturated fatty acid of intramuscular and perinephric fat were higher (P < 0.05) in the 24- than in the 20-month group. Of the FAAs in the longissimus thoracis muscle, the threonine and tyrosine contents were lower (P < 0.05) in the 24- than in the 20-month group. The IMP content was higher (P < 0.05) in the 24- than in the 20-month group, suggesting an effect of prolongation of the fattening period. [source] Effects of an environmental enrichment using a drum can on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics in fattening beef cattleANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Toshie ISHIWATA ABSTRACT To evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics, 71 Japanese Black × Holstein steers (8 months of age; 299.5 ± 22.6 kg) were allocated to three pens in two repetitive experiments. Pen C (n = 11 and 12) consisted of a feeding alley for grain feed, a trough for dry hay, a water bowl and a resting space as a control pen. Pen D (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can (58 cm diameter ×,90 cm height) containing hay. Pen GD (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can that was placed around artificial plastic turf (30 × 120 cm) for grooming. The drum cans were removed after 5 months of installation. Behavioral observations were made for 2 h at 10 min intervals after feeding on three successive days each month for 10 months. Agonistic interactions were also continuously observed for 1 h after feeding to assess the dominance order (DO). Sampling blood and measuring bodyweight were performed bimonthly. The steers used the drum can frequently for 3 months after installation (1st, 2nd, 3rd months vs 4 months, all P < 0.05). The frequency of total eating of grain feed and hay was higher in pen D and pen GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01), while it was lowest in pen GD after removal of the drum can (P < 0.05). Grooming at the drum can was observed more frequently in pen GD than in pen D (P < 0.05). After they finished eating the grain feed, they ate hay at the drum can that contained additional hay rather than at the trough for hay (P < 0.01). Plasma dopamine concentrations were higher in pen D than in pen C (P < 0.05), and serum triglyceride concentrations were higher in pen C than in pen GD (P < 0.05) during the installation of the drum can. After removal of the drum can, serum total cholesterol concentrations became higher in pen D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.05). Average daily gain correlated positively with the frequency of eating hay at the drum can in pen D (rs = 0.52, P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of using the drum can correlated negatively with DO (rs = ,0.59, P < 0.01). Carcass belly fat was thicker in pens D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of eating hay (rs = 0.79, P < 0.01) and grooming at the drum can (rs = 0.63, P < 0.05) correlated positively with the marbling score. Although social factor affected the steers using the drum can, installing it in the early fattening stage encouraged the steers to eat and groom there and resulted in better carcass characteristics through the prolonged physiological positive effects. [source] The relationship between plasma leptin concentrations and the distribution of body fat in crossbred steersANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2003Tomoya YAMADA Abstract The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between plasma leptin levels and fat distribution in crossbred steers. Twenty-four crossbred steers (Japanese Black × Holstein) were used in this study. Six steers belonged to the growing phase (11 months of age), and 18 steers to the finishing phase (from 21 to 28 months of age). Plasma leptin levels correlated positively with body fat weight (r = 0.807, P < 0.01), body fat percentage (r = 0.802, P < 0.01), visceral fat weight (r = 0.807, P < 0.01), visceral fat percentage (r = 0.780, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat weight (r = 0.745, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat percentage (r = 0.734, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat weight (r = 0.793, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat percentage (0.775, P < 0.01), renal fat weight (r = 0.694, P < 0.01), renal fat percentage (r = 0.642, P < 0.01), subcutaneous fat thickness (r = 0.755, P < 0.01), intermuscular fat thickness (r = 0.721, P < 0.01), beef marbling score (r = 0.706, P < 0.01) and the crude fat content of Musculus longissimus thoracis (r = 0.592, P < 0.01). The location of fat deposits did not affect the correlation values. However, when steers were divided into growing (n = 6) and finishing (n = 18) groups, there was no significant correlation between plasma leptin levels and the carcass characteristics related to fat deposition (fat weight, fat percentage, carcass traits) in either group. These results suggest that plasma leptin levels in crossbred steers positively correlate with body fat content and carcass traits when these parameters vary widely. [source] | ||||||||||